{{short description|1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy}} {{redirect|Delbert D. Black|the guided-missile destroyer named after Black|USS Delbert D. Black{{!}}USS ''Delbert D. Black''}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox military person |name= Delbert D. Black |image= MCPON Delbert Black.jpg |image_size= |alt= |caption= 1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |nickname= |birth_date= {{birth date|df=yes|1922|7|11}} |birth_place= [[Love County, Oklahoma|Orr, Oklahoma]], US |death_date= {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|3|5|1922|7|11}} |death_place= [[Winter Park, Florida]], US |burial_place= [[Arlington National Cemetery]] |allegiance= United States |branch= [[United States Navy]] |service_years= 1941–1971 (30 years) |rank= [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]] |service_number= |unit= |commands= [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]] |battles= [[World War II]] * [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] |awards= [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] |relations= |other_work= }} '''Delbert D. Black''' (11 July 1922 – 5 March 2000) was a senior sailor in the [[United States Navy]] who served as the first [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]] from 13 January 1967 to 1 April 1971.
==Early life and family== Black was born in [[Love County, Oklahoma|Orr, Oklahoma]], graduating from high school in 1940. He enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] on 14 March 1941. Delbert "Del" Black was married to Ima Black for 50 years and had a son Donny D. Black. Grandfather to Dylan and Nathan Black.
==Naval career== Upon completion of recruit training in [[San Diego]], Black was assigned to the {{USS|Maryland|BB-46}} and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He later served at Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor; {{USS|Doyle C. Barnes|DE-353}}; [[Guiuan Airfield|Naval Air Base Samar]], [[Philippines]]; {{USS|Gardiners Bay|AVP-39}}, {{USS|Boxer|CVA-21}}; {{USS|Antietam|CVA-36}}; U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Washington, D.C.; [[Yokosuka, Japan]] ship repair facilities; {{USS|Brush|DD-745}}; {{USS|Carpenter|DDE-825}}; {{USS|Norfolk|DL-1}}; Recruiting Duty, Columbia, Tennessee; {{USS|Springfield|CL-66}}; {{USS|Independence|CV-62}}; and Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center (FAAWTC), [[Training Support Center Hampton Roads|Dam Neck, Virginia]]. During his career, he advanced from striking for the rate of [[Gunner's Mate]] to the rank of [[Master chief petty officer|Master Chief]].
===Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy=== On 13 January 1967, the [[Secretary of the Navy]] announced the appointment of Master Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCM) Black as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor, the position that would evolve into Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. As such, he was the highest rated [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] man in the United States Navy, serving as the enlisted representative to the [[Chief of Naval Operations]]. His function was to counsel the highest ranks of the Navy on issues associated with enlisted guidance, leadership, and policy. Black was the first enlisted man to write a foreword for ''[[The Bluejacket's Manual]]''.
==Retirement and later work== [[File:Delbert Black grave.jpg|thumb|The twelfth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) [[Rick D. West]] lays a single red rose at the gravesite of the first MCPON Delbert Black at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].]] Upon retirement from active duty, Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He was an active member of the [[USO]] Council of Central Florida; the [[Fleet Reserve Association]]; and co-chairman on the Secretary of Navy Committee on Retired Personnel. He died at his home in Winter Park, Florida from a heart attack at the age of 77. He is buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]], Section 11, Site 496 LH.
At a 13 March 2015 ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Navy Secretary [[Ray Mabus]] and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) [[Michael D. Stevens]] announced that an [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer]], ''[[USS Delbert D. Black]]'', would honor Delbert Black.
==Awards and decorations== {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=China Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- | align="center" |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Antarctica Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines).svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106px}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber_rib.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106px}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Korean War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" !1st Row |[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] (Master Chief Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive this award.) |[[Combat Action Ribbon]] |[[Navy Unit Commendation]] |- !2nd Row |[[Navy Good Conduct Medal]] (with 6 service stars) |[[China Service Medal]] |[[American Defense Service Medal]] (with 1 campaign star) |- !3rd Row |[[American Campaign Medal]] |[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] (with 8 campaign stars) |[[World War II Victory Medal]] |- !4th Row |[[Navy Occupation Service Medal]] |[[National Defense Service Medal]] (with 1 service star) |[[Korean Service Medal]] |- !5th Row |[[Antarctica Service Medal]] |[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with service star |[[Philippine Presidential Unit Citation]] |- !6th Row |[[Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea)|Korean Presidential Unit Citation]] |[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] |[[Philippine Liberation Medal]] (with 2 service stars) |- !7th Row |[[United Nations Korea Medal]] |[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] |[[Korean War Service Medal]] |} * 7 gold [[Service stripe]]s.
==References== {{Portal|Biography}} {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} {{wikiquote}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041105141335/https://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/History/bios/black.htm Biography] * [http://www.quarterdeck.org/WindsOfChange/012-29%20MCPON%20Black.htm Biography at quarterdeck.org]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Delbert}} [[Category:1922 births]] [[Category:2000 deaths]] [[Category:People from Love County, Oklahoma]] [[Category:Master Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]] [[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]] [[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Category:People from Winter Park, Florida]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War]] [[Category:Military personnel from Oklahoma]]